Blueberry plant named ‘C08-141’

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘C08-141’ is provided. ‘C08-141’ is a commercial variety intended for the fresh market. The variety is produced from a cross of ‘FL00-057’ and ‘C99-042’, which can be distinguished by its outstanding features.

Latin name of the genus and species:

Genus—Vaccinium.

Species—corymbosum hybrid.

Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the varietydenominated ‘C08-141’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety ‘C08-141’ was selected from a population of seedlingsderived from crossing the blueberry varieties known as ‘FL00-057’ (seedparent) (not patented)) and the variety known as ‘C99-042’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 20,695) (pollen parent). The cross was made in 2006 in Florida,USA and the seed was sown and grown on in Corindi Beach, NSW, Australia.The new variety was selected in 2008 from among plants located on landat Corindi Beach and assigned the breeding code ‘C08-141’. Plants of‘C08-141’ were propagated by cuttings for further evaluation andresulted to be uniform and stable. The new variety showed distinctivetraits such as evergreen, vigorous, good flavor and firm fruit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety ‘C08-141’ was originated from a cross of ‘FL00-057’(seed parent) and the variety known as ‘C99-042’ in 2006 in Florida,USA. The pollen parent is characterized by an early to mid-season timingof fruit ripening, it is evergreen, its fruit is of high firmness.

The new blueberry variety resulted from seedlings produced in acontrolled breeding programme. The cross was made in 2006 in Florida,USA and the seed was sown and grown on in Corindi Beach, NSW, Australia.

The new variety was selected in 2008 from among plants located on landat Corindi Beach and has since been named ‘C08-141’. Since then plantsof ‘C08-141’ were propagated by cuttings for further evaluation andresulted to be uniform and stable. Asexual reproduction of the newvariety ‘C08-141’ by cutting propagation since 2008 at Corindi Beach,NSW, Australia has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true totype plants.

The new variety was selected in 2008 as a single plant within apopulation of seedlings resulting from controlled cross of Vacciniumvarieties. The seedling population was planted in an experimental blockin the field at Corindi Beach, NSW, Australia and the selection of thenew variety took place in the same block. Selection criteria were acombination of early to mid-season, low chilling requirement, strongvigour, non-deciduous type of plant (evergreen), large fruit size, goodfruit flavor and firm fruit. The new variety was subsequently evaluatedfor a number of years at the commercial farm at Corindi Beach, NSW,Australia.

The following characteristics of the new variety have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘C08-141’ as a new and distinctvariety of Vaccinium corymbosum hybrid:

-   -   1. Non-deciduous (Evergreen)    -   2. Early to medium season crop    -   3. Strong plant vigour    -   4. Low chilling requirement    -   5. Large fruit size    -   6. Good fruit flavor    -   7. Firm fruit

The new variety differed from the male parent ‘C99-042’ in that‘C08-141’ has a higher vigour and a larger fruit size. The new blueberryvariety ‘C08-141’ has maintained its distinguished characteristicsthroughout successive asexual propagation. The variety has beenrepeatedly asexually reproduced thought softwood cuttings in NSW,Australia and the clones are phenotypically identical to the originalplant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens infull color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘C08-141’. Thecolors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘C08-141’, demonstrating afour year old plant's upright habit and the strong vigour.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the new variety ‘C08-141’, showing the typicalred coloration of the wood during the winter time on a four year oldplant.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the mature fruit, green fruit and flower on afour year old plant of the new variety ‘C08-141’.

FIG. 4 is a photograph showing the large fruit size of the new variety‘C08-141’ on a four year old plant.

FIG. 5 is a photograph of the typical elliptic leaf of the new variety‘C08-141’ on a four year old plant.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited inthe detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of thenew blueberry.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘C08-141’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions of theoriginal selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristicsare approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. Theplant history was taken on plants approximately 5 years of age, and thedescriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Corindi Beach, NSW,2456 Australia. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruitgrown in Corindi Beach, NSW, 2456 Australia. Color designations are fromR.H.S. Chart—edition 2007.

-   Classification:    -   -   a. Family.—Ericaceae.        -   b. Genus.—Vaccinium.        -   c. Species.—Corymbosum hybrid.        -   d. Common name.—Blueberry.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Unpatented selection ‘FL00-057’.        -   Male parent.—‘C99-042’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,695).-   Market class: Fresh market.

PLANT

-   General:    -   -   a) Parentage.—FL00-057 x C99-042.        -   b) Plant height.—1.5 m.        -   c) Plant width.—1.0 m.        -   d) Growth habit.—Upright.        -   e) Growth.—Vigorous.        -   f) Productivity.—Medium to high yield.        -   g) Cold hardiness.—Low chill.        -   h) Cold tolerance.—Low.        -   i) Chilling requirement.—Low, estimated between 150 and 300            hours.        -   j) Tolerance to disease.—Tolerant to leaf rust.        -   k) Leafing.—Overall medium to high and plant retains leaves            during the winter.        -   l) Twigginess.—Low.        -   m) Fruiting type.—On one-year old and current season's            shoots.

STEM

-   General:    -   -   a) Suckering tendency.—Medium.        -   b) Mature cane color.—Between greyed green 197c and green            brown N199B.        -   c) Mature cane length.—Average 0.6 m.        -   d) Mature cane width.—Average 8.3 mm.        -   e) Bark texture.—Medium.        -   f) Fall color on new shoots.—Greyed purple 185a.        -   g) Surface texture of new wood.—Smooth.        -   h) Internode length on strong, new shoots.—25.1 mm.        -   i) Fruiting wood.—146.4 cm in length.

FOLIAGE

-   General:    -   -   a) Time of beginning of leaf bud burst.—Early (August in            Corindi, NSW, Australia).        -   b) Leaf color (top side).—Green group 139 A.        -   c) Leaf color (under side).—Green group 138C.        -   d) Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   e) Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   f) Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   g) Undulation of margin.—Weak.        -   h) Leaf venation.—Reticulate.        -   i) Leaf apices.—Acute.        -   j) Leaf bases.—Rounded.        -   k) Leaf length.—68 mm.        -   l) Leaf width.—27.6 mm.        -   m) Leaf length/width ratio.—2.10.        -   n) Leaf nectarines.—Absent.        -   o) Pubescence of upper side.—Absent.        -   p) Pubescence of lower side.—Absent.        -   q) Cross sectional profile.—Flat.        -   r) Longitudinal profile.—Straight.        -   s) Attitude.—Horizontal.-   Petioles:    -   -   a) Length.—Average 4.1 mm.        -   b) Width.—Average 1.5 mm.        -   c) Color.—Yellow green N144D.

FLOWERS

-   General:    -   -   a) Time of beginning of flowering.—Medium.        -   b) Time of 50% anthesis.—On average it is around the 2^(nd)            of August.        -   c) Flower shape.—Urceolate.        -   d) Flower bud density.—Sparse to medium.        -   e) Flower fragrance.—No.-   Corolla:    -   -   a) Color.—155C.        -   b) Length.—10.1 mm.        -   c) Width.—9.5 mm.        -   d) Aperture width.—5.12 mm.        -   e) Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.—Absent.        -   f) Corolla ridges.—Present.        -   g) Protrusion of stigma.—Absent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   a) Length.—20.13 mm        -   b) Diameter.—22.8 mm.        -   c) Length of peduncle.—10.6 mm.        -   d) Surface texture of peduncle.—Smooth.        -   e) Color of peduncle.—Yellow-green group 145B with            greyed-red group 178B on top.        -   f) Length of pedicel.—7.6 mm.        -   g) Surface texture of pedicel.—Smooth.        -   h) Color of pedicel.—Yellow green group 145B.        -   i) Number of flowers per cluster.—4.4.        -   j) Flower cluster density.—Sparse to medium.-   Calyx (with sepals):    -   -   a) Diameter.—5.9 mm.        -   b) Color (sepals).—Green group 138C.        -   c) Fruit attitude of the sepals.—Semi-erect.        -   d) Type of sepals.—Incurving.        -   e.) Diameter of the fruit calyx basin.—Medium.-   Stamen:    -   -   a) Length.—7.6 mm.        -   b) Number per flower.—10.        -   c) Filament color.—Yellow-green group 145B.        -   d) Style.—Length — 8.9 mm.        -   e) Color.—Yellow-green group N144C.-   Pistil:    -   -   a) Length.—11.3 mm.        -   b) Ovary color (exterior).—Green group 138B.-   Anther:    -   -   a) Length.—4.8 mm.        -   b) Number.—10.        -   c) Color.—Greyed-orange group 165B.-   Pollen:    -   -   a) Abundance.—Abundant.        -   b) Color.—Yellow group 4D.        -   c) Self-compatibility.—Overall good, with decent fruit            sizes, around 2 g.

FRUIT

-   General:    -   -   a) Time of fruit ripening.—Early to medium.        -   b) Time of 50% maturity.—On average on the 30^(th) of            September.        -   c) Fruit development period.—60 days.        -   d) Cluster density.—Medium (3-6 berries per cluster).        -   e) Unripe fruit color.—Light to medium, similar to green            group 143C.        -   f) Ripe berry color.—Blue group 102A.        -   g) Berry surface wax abundance.—Strong.        -   h) Berry flesh color.—Yellow-green group 145C.        -   i) Berry weight.—On average 3.1 g.        -   j) Berry height from calyx to scar.—13.5 mm.        -   k) Berry diameter.—20.3 mm.        -   l) Berry shape.—Oblate.        -   m) Fruit stem scar.—Dry.        -   n) Sweetness when ripe.—Medium (11.2 Brix).        -   o) Firmness when ripe.—Firm to very firm (251 g/mm).        -   p) Acidity when ripe.—Medium (0.45%).        -   q) Storage quality.—Long shelf life.        -   r) Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—Not tested.        -   s) Self-fruitfulness.—High.        -   t) Uses.—Fruit to be hand harvested for fresh market.

SEED

-   General:    -   -   a) Seed abundance in fruit.—Medium to low, on average 11            seeds per fruit.        -   b) Seed color.—Greyed orange 165B.        -   c) Seed length.—1.45 mm.

COMPARISON BETWEEN PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

TABLE 1 Distinctive characteristic of the new variety and comparisonwith similar varieties. The female parent ‘FL00-057’ is characterized byits good vigor and high yield of medium-large fruit. C03-158 (U.S. Pat.C08-141 Application C99-042 Emerald (not No. (not (U.S. Plant Pat.Characteristic patented) 13/999,286) patented) No. 12,165) Soluble solid11.2 11.4 13.1 11.6 content (%) Titratable 0.45 0.4 0.3 0.5 acidity (%)Fruit weight (g) 3.1 2.5 1.9 3.0 Fruit firmness 251 240 272 238 (g/mm)Plant habit Upright Upright Semi- Spreading upright to spreading Time offruit Early to Mid-season Early to Mid to late ripening medium mediumC97-390 (U.S. Plant Star Snowchaser Characteristic Pat. No. 20,642) (notpatented) (not patented) Soluble solid 12.2 13.1 14.3 content (%)Titratable 0.3 0.4 0.5 acidity (%) Fruit weight (g) 2.0 1.9 1.7 Fruitfirmness 219 212 192 (g/mm) Plant habit Semi- Strongly Semi- uprightupright to upright upright Time of fruit Early Late Very early ripening

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blueberryplant named ‘C08-141’, substantially as illustrated and describedherein.